System and method for producing made-to-order designs on the surface of an extraterrestrial body

ABSTRACT

A method for producing designs involves receiving a request to create a design on the surface of an extraterrestrial body, transmitting a control signal to a device on a vehicle on the extraterrestrial body, the control signal causing the device to create the design, and receiving an image signal providing an image of the design created on the surface. A device for producing the designs includes a surface altering tool configured to rearrange material on the surface. The tool may be provided as a configurable-tread rover wheel that includes a wheel hub having radially-extending channels, and tread elements supported in the channels that are selectively articulatable under the control of a control module to form a tread pattern corresponding to a design intended to be produced. The tread elements may be selectively extended or retracted by operation of an array of solenoids controlled by the control module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/385,184, filed Sep. 22,2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to the surface alteration of extraterrestrialbodies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People are always looking for a unique way to commemorate some event,for example, birthday, bar mitzvah, graduation, wedding, anniversary,death, athletic victory, etc.; or send a greeting or gift to others at aholiday such as Valentines day or Christmas.

Even before the landing of Apollo XI in 1969, which returned images fromthat expedition of the first boot prints of humans on the surface of theMoon, human beings have dreamed about leaving their own mark on otherworlds. While the actual rate of deterioration of these foot prints andwheel tracks left in the lunar soil will remain unknown until humans ortheir robotic explorers can return to study them, the general scientificconsensus is that these marks will remain discernible for possibly manymillennia. They may be longer lasting evidence of human civilizationthan the pyramids of ancient Egypt.

Advances in astronautics and aerospace engineering over the past 50years have made it possible to offer equipment which will permit peopleto reach out and touch, figuratively speaking, surfaces of other bodiesin our solar system. Twin, telerobotically operated, Soviet Lunokhodmoon rovers of the early 1970s collectively traveled almost 47 km duringa combined 15 months of operation; and also by the success of theAmerican Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which operatedfor over 5 years on the surface of Mars collectively traveling over 21kilometers by the end of 2008 using a combined telerobotic andautonomous mode of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This opens the door to offering a service to people on Earth that wouldpermit them to place an incredibly long-lasting design, message, image,etc. on the surface of the Moon, an asteroid, or some otherextraterrestrial body by means of a proxy manipulator that rearrangesthe surface material. This invention presents a method for offering anddelivering such a service and the related Earth-based products that canbe produced and delivered based upon such a service.

Not all extraterrestrial bodies are suitable for creating long-liveddesigns on their surfaces. The absence of such things as an atmosphere,significant seismic activity, thermal cycling, volcanic activity,ongoing extensive asteroid bombardment, flowing liquids, etc. are someof the factors needed for the surface of an extraterrestrial body toremain unaltered for extremely long periods of time.

The Moon is an example of one body in the solar system that is verysuitable for making long-lived designs in the surface material. Adesign, once made in the lunar surface, has a very low probability ofbeing altered by natural, human, or robotic activity.

This ability to land spacecraft on another planet and move them aboutthe surface opens up the possibility of sending such a spacecraftoutfitted with a means of altering the surface material in order toimplement designs based upon instructions relayed from people on Earth.

The present invention relates to using a device on the surface of anextraterrestrial body outfitted with a means for altering the surface ofthe extraterrestrial body so as to implement a desired design on thesurface in accordance with an entity's instructions; and to the use ofdata collected and transmitted back to Earth about the created design toproduce images and reproductions of the implemented design to bedelivered per the entity's instructions.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for producingmade-to-order designs on a surface of an extraterrestrial body. Themethod comprises receiving from an entity a request to create a designon the surface of the extraterrestrial body; transmitting a controlsignal to a device on a vehicle on the extraterrestrial body, thecontrol signal causing the device to create the design; and receiving animage signal sent from the vehicle, the image signal providing an imageof the design created on the surface.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a device forproducing made-to-order designs on a surface of an extraterrestrialbody. The device comprises a surface altering tool configured torearrange material on the surface; a motorized vehicle capable oftraversing the surface of the extraterrestrial body, the vehiclesupporting the surface altering tool; an imaging device supported on thevehicle, the imaging device being configured for capturing an image ofthe surface; a communication system for receiving a control signaltransmitted from Earth, and for transmitting an image signal to Earth;and a control module configured to control operation at least one of thevehicle and the surface altering tool to produce a design in accordancewith the control signal.

In a certain embodiment, the surface altering tool comprises aconfigurable-tread rover wheel. The configurable-tread rover wheelcomprises a wheel hub comprising a plurality of radially-extendingchannels; a plurality of tread elements, each tread element beingsupported in a respective one of said plurality of radially-extendingchannels, each tread element comprising: a tread head supported on anelongated post; a rotating cup having a central opening for receivingsaid post, a radially-extending flange and a plurality oflongitudinally-extending ridges spaced about its periphery, saidrotating cup terminating in a pin; a spring supported about said postand abutting said flange to bias said tread head toward a retractedposition; an elongated push pin having a central opening for receivingsaid pin of said rotating cup; a grooved insert having an internalchannel admitting passage of said elongated push pin and a plurality oflongitudinally-extending grooves spaced about its channel, the groovedinsert further comprising a plurality of angled surfaces configured toguide the ridges of the rotating cup and cause incremental rotation ofthe rotating cup about an axis in response to reciprocation of therotating cup within the grooved insert along the axis; and a pluralityof solenoids supported within said wheel hub, each of said plurality ofsolenoids being operatively connected to said control module to permitactuation of each said solenoid upon receipt of a control signal fromsaid control module.

Also provided is a system for producing made-to-order designs on asurface of an extraterrestrial body. The system comprises acommunication system for transmitting a control signal to a device onthe extraterrestrial body; and a computer-implemented system comprising:a request module for receiving a request to create a design on thesurface of the extraterrestrial body; a command module for preparing thecontrol signal causing the device to create the design; and an imagingmodule for receiving from the device an image signal providing an imageof the design created on the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example with thereference to the following drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system for producing made-to-orderdesigns on the surface of an extraterrestrial body in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a method for producing made-to-orderdesigns on the surface of an extraterrestrial body in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a tread head ofa configurable-tread rover wheel compatible with the rover shown in FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is the exemplary tread head of FIG. 4, shown assembled to createa tread head;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary wheel hub of aconfigurable-tread rover wheel in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wheel hub of FIG. 6,showing an exemplary channel into which a respective tread head isinserted during assembly;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an exemplary configurable-tread roverwheel, shown without the tread heads for illustrative clarity;

FIG. 9 is an image of an exemplary textual message created with aconfigurable-tread rover wheel in accordance with the present invention;and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the grooved insert of FIG. 4, shownflattened for illustrative clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, the present invention involves providing a device on thesurface of an extraterrestrial body, such as the Earth's moon. Thepresent invention further involves receiving on Earth a request tocreate a design on the body, causing the device to create the design andto send an image of (or data representing) the created design back toEarth, and then delivering the image, or a product incorporating theimage, to a recipient on Earth.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary system 100 for producingmade-to-order designs on the surface of an extraterrestrial bodyincludes an Earth-bound portion 40 and an extraterrestrial portion 80.The Earth-bound portion 40 includes input devices 102 by which an entity104, such as an individual, organization, business, or group of people,may interact with the system to enter a request for creation of aspecific design. Examples of such input devices include a personalcomputer 102 a (e.g., via e-mail or a web site), a mobiletelephone/smartphone 102 b, a fax machine 102 c, or a telephone 102 d.Requests may also be received via mail or courier and be entered by asystem operator.

The input devices 102 are used to provide the request to a serviceprovider 106. More specifically, the input devices are operativelyconnected for communication with the service provider 106's computerizedsystem 108 via a communications network 110, such as the Internet. Thecomputer-implemented system 108 may include conventional hardware andsoftware, and further includes in accordance with the present inventionat least a request module for receiving a request to create a design onthe surface of the extraterrestrial body, a command module for preparingthe control signal causing the device to create the design, and animaging module for receiving from the device an image signal providingan image of the design created on the surface.

By way of example, the input device 102 and the system 108 maycommunicate in a client/server relationship. The service provider'ssystem 108 may process the request to perform one or more of thefollowing functions: to identify the desired design, prioritize therequest as a function of a specified desired delivery date, integrateand sequence the request with existing requests, and prepare and send acontrol signal to the extraterrestrial portion 80 via a communicationstation 120.

The communication station 120 may include an antenna for radiocommunication or a telescope-laser system for laser communication. Insome cases direct communication between the communication station 120and the device 150 on the extraterrestrial body may not be possible—suchas when the device 150 is on the far side of the body. Optionally, thesystem 100 includes one or more relay satellites (not shown) in Earthorbit, and/or in orbit around the extraterrestrial body to facilitatecommunication in such cases.

The transmitted control signal is received by a device 150 deployed onthe extraterrestrial body in an extraterrestrial portion 80 of thesystem. The device includes a surface altering tool 160 a, 160 b carriedabout by a transport vehicle 190. In one embodiment, the transportvehicle 190 is a motorized “rover” capable of traversing the body'ssurface. The rover may be operated autonomously, telerobotically ascontrolled from a remote location, by an on-board operator, or by acombination of the above. Technology for developing and controlling asuitable transport vehicle, and providing it on the surface of anextraterrestrial body, are well-known in the art and thus are notdiscussed in detail herein.

The surface altering tool 160 a, 160 b is configured to physically alterthe surface of the extraterrestrial body so as to impart a desireddesign (see design 6, FIG. 1), and may have any suitable form. By way ofexample, the surface altering tool may include components forrearranging the body's surface material by: mechanical means, such as,brushing, blowing, excavating, drilling, stamping, molding, extruding,sorting, raking, or sifting; altering the composition of the surfacematerial by the application of energy, such as, heat, radio frequencyenergy, or light; applying a coating material; mixing the surfacematerial with material brought or collected from another place orplaces; applying a magnetic field; or using explosives.

In one embodiment, a robotic arm 160 a, either with appropriate endeffector(s), or wielding the appropriate tool(s), provides the desiredsurface altering using any of the techniques and/or tools describedpreviously. In embodiments in which the desired surface alteringconsists of symbols for which the robotic arm's motions can bepreprogrammed and stored locally on the device 150, the amount ofcommunication traffic between the Earth and the extraterrestrial bodycan be significantly reduced. Robotic arms capable of various sorts offine and gross altering have been built for use on Earth in industry,and various arms have been included on rovers sent into space. Forexample the Mars Exploration Rovers each have a robotic arm with arotating rock abrasion tool on the end. An exemplary simplifiedembodiment uses a robotic arm with a single stylus on the end that canbe dragged through the surface material to create designs, similar towhat a human being might do with their index finger to “write” in thesand on a beach. Accordingly, technology for developing and controllinga suitable arm are well-known in the art and thus are not discussed indetail herein.

In another embodiment, the surface altering tool 160 b is provided as awheel of the transport vehicle that has a tread structure configurableso as to impress into the surface a design, for example, text, as therover traverses the surface. In one such embodiment, individual elements(e.g., tread blocks) of the tread are articulatable, e.g. radially withrespect to the wheel or otherwise, such that the tread as a whole isconfigurable on-the-fly to change in accordance with the requesteddesign. For example, individual tread blocks may be automatedly (underthe control of a control module 200, discussed below) radially extendedor retracted to provide an overall tread design that will leave animpression in surface material of the extraterrestrial body that willprovide a visually perceptible version of the desired design—e.g., thetext “YOUR NAME” This configurable-tread wheel embodiment isadvantageous in that it would little interfere with other missions ofthe rover and also incorporates a useful capability for adjusting thetraction of the wheels for different surface conditions. Theconfigurable tread is particularly well-suited for creating designscomposed of a few arrayed elements such as block text characters. Awheel capable of configuring its tread can be based upon any number ofenabling technologies. For example, the Braille Wheel described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,776,619, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference, could form the basis for one suchwheel with a configurable tread pattern.

An exemplary embodiment of a configurable-tread rover wheel 160 bconsistent with the present invention is described below with referenceto FIGS. 4-8. Each configurable-tread wheel 160 b includes a pluralityof components, including a plurality of selectively articulatable treadelements 210 supported on a wheel hub 220, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.The wheel hub 220 includes spokes 222 for supporting the hub 220 on anaxle or other rotational-drive mechanism. The wheel hub 220 furtherincludes a circumferential support 224 defining a plurality ofradially-extending channels 226. Though any suitable arrangement may beused, in one embodiment, the channels 226 are arranged in a regulararray extending both circumferentially and axially, as best shown inFIG. 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the wheel hub 220 includes 7parallel rows of axially-spaced channels 226. In each row, the channelsare spaced at angular intervals (e.g., every 4.2857 degrees for anembodiment including 84 circumferentially-spaced channels) about thewheel hub 220.

FIG. 4 shows subcomponents of the tread element 210 in an exploded view.FIG. 5 is the exemplary tread element 210 of FIG. 4, shown assembled.Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the tread element 210 includes a toptread head 212 connected to a lower tread head 214 by a bolt 211 passingthrough the top tread head 212. These head elements are arranged suchthat an elastic membrane 213 (see FIG. 8) is captured therebetween. Asdescribed in greater detail below, the membrane 213 prevents dust anddirt from migrating between and underneath the tread heads andinterfering with their normal operation.

The lower tread head 214 includes an elongated post 214 a about whichare positioned a coil spring 215, a rotating cup 216, a push pin 217,and a grooved insert 218. These elements are shown assembled into asingle tread element 210 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wheel hub 220 of FIG. 6,showing an exemplary channel 226 in which a respective tread element 210is supported in an assembled configurable-tread wheel 160 b. Theexemplary channel 226 has a stepped configuration defined by multiplesections of co-axial openings. The arrangement and dimensions of thesections of the channel 226 correspond to the components of the treadelement, as will be appreciated by the juxtaposition of FIGS. 5 and 7.

Using a wheel hub 220 including 7 parallel rows of channels 226, forexample, a single character, e.g. an alphanumeric character, may becomposed of an array tread heads that is 7 tread heads high and up to 5tread heads wide, which is believed sufficient to produce legiblecapital letters, numbers, and punctuation characters in English. Acolumn of tread heads 7 high by 1 column wide provides adequate spacingbetween characters.

During assembly of the configurable-tread wheel 160 b, the treadelements 210 are inserted into the channels 226 of the wheel hub 220,with the tread head portion (211, 212, and 214) positioned toward anouter periphery of the wheel hub 220, and the push pin 217 positionedtoward an inner, central portion of the wheel hub 220. Morespecifically, the lower tread head 214 is first inserted in a channel226 from the outermost portion of the wheel hub 220. The spring 215 isthen inserted into the channel 226 from the inner, central portion ofthe wheel hub 220, and is positioned to fit over the protruding post 214a on the lower tread head 214. The first segment 226 a of the channel226 has a diameter only slightly larger than that of the protruding post214 a. The spring 215 is sized so that it is smaller in diameter thanthe diameter of the second smallest segment 226 b of the channel 226,but larger in diameter than the smallest segment 226 a. The annularshoulder 228 created in the channel 226 due to differences in thediameters of the adjacent segments 226 a, 226 b provides a stop forspring 215 and a surface against which the spring 215 can be compressed.

The rotating cup 216 is inserted next into the channel 226. The rotatingcup 216 has an upper flange 216 a to push against spring 215. Therotating cup 216 has a bottom pin 216 c which fits inside push pin 217.Each push on the bottom of push pin 217 pushes the rotating cup 216 up adistance controlled by the length of the third smallest-diameter segment226 c of the channel 226. This travel length is sufficient to raise therotating cup 216 enough so that the ridges 216 b along a portion of itsupper length below the upper flange 216 a rise above grooves 221 in thegrooved insert 218, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 10. Referring now toFIG. 10, angled surfaces 219 on the top of the spaces between thegrooves 221 of the grooved insert 218 and the bottom of the ridges 216 bon the rotating cup 216 cause the ridges 216 b to slide down into thenext adjacent grooves when the force of spring 215 is no longer overcomeby a force being applied to the push pin 217. Since alternating groovesinside the grooved insert 218 alternate in depth (as measured radiallyfrom an axis of elongation of the grooved insert 218), the rotating cup216 is pushed back into the grooved insert 218 in alternating short andlong axial depths as the ridges 216 b on rotating cup 216 will only fitwithin the greater depth grooves 221. See FIG. 10. The result is thatthe tread element's head is alternately positioned between extended andretracted positions as the push pin 217 is successively pushed andreleased.

Push pin 217 is inserted next into the channel 226. The small diameterbottom pin 216 c of the rotating cup 216 fits into a corresponding hole217 a in the top of push pin 217. Push pin 217 has twice the ridges 217b of rotating cup 216 and these are sized to fit into all the grooves221 of grooved insert 218, both those of greater and lesser depth, sothat it can slide along the entire length of the grooves internal togrooved insert 218 as the push pin is pushed.

Grooved insert 218 is inserted last into the channel 226, and is sizedto fit within the largest diameter section 226 d of channel 226 in aninterference/friction fit. However, some form of adhesive or metaljoining method may be used to ensure that it stays in place. A portionof the ridge-free section of push pin 217 extends outwardly from thebottom of grooved insert 218.

After all of the tread elements 210 have been inserted into the channels226 of the wheel hub 220, final assembly of the remaining wheelcomponents may be performed. During such final assembly, theaxially-elongated annular membrane 213 (see FIG. 8) is positioned aroundthe wheel hub 220. The membrane 213 is then secured between the treadelement's top 212 and bottom 214 heads by tightening the bolts 211 tosecure the top heads 212 to respective bottom heads 214. The membranemay be provided with holes for admitting passage of the bolts 211, orthe necessary holes may be made during the assembly process. Themembrane is further secured to the wheel hub, circumferentially aroundthe inner and outer outside edges of the wheel hub 220, by fasteningouter and inner clamping rings 230 and 232. The clamping rings 230, 232may be attached to the wheel hub 220 by driving a plurality of machinescrews or other fasteners through holes in the clamping rings andmembrane 213 and into corresponding holes in the wheel hub 220.

To prevent dust and dirt from migrating into spaces around theprotruding push pins 217 on the inner, central region of the wheel hub220, an internal membrane 240 is inserted into the wheel hub 220 andheld in place by outer and inner retaining rings 234, 236. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 8, the wheel hub 220 has four spokes on theouter wall of the wheel. To augment the portion of the outer rim usedfor clamping the internal membrane 240 to the wheel hub, both themembrane 240 and the outer retaining ring 234 may be notched to fitaround the spokes. As with the outside clamping rings 230 and 232, theinside clamping rings 234 and 236 may be attached to the wheel hub 220by a plurality of machine screws or other fasteners that pass throughholes in them and also through corresponding holes in the inner membrane240 and then screw into corresponding holes in the outer and innerinside rims of wheel hub 220. The inner and outer edges of the innermembrane 240 are thus clamped against wheel hub 220 and held in place bythese clamping rings 234 and 236. The membrane 240 is held taught by theclamping rings 234 and 236 so that its surface is adjacent the push pins217.

When assembled into channels 226, the tread elements 210 collectivelycreate a regular array of tread heads, each of which can be articulatedindividually between an extended positioned, in which the tread's tophead 212 is positioned radially outwardly from the rotational axis ofthe wheel relative to many other top heads, and a retracted position inwhich the top head 212 is positioned radially inwardly relative to theextended position. Thus, the individual tread elements 210 may becollectively manipulated to create a desired pattern of protruding (orretracted) tread heads that will imprint upon the extraterrestrialbody's surface a corresponding design/image as the configurable-treadwheel 160 b rotates into contact with the ground and bears a portion ofthe weight of the vehicle. Generally, pressing radially outwardly on thetip of the push pin 217 will cause the head 212 to move radiallyoutwardly into the extended position and compress spring 215, and spring215 and/or resilient membrane 213 will cause the head 212 to return toor toward a retracted position.

Each configurable tread wheel 160 b further includes a motor 250supporting a control box 252 containing at least one row of solenoids254 or other linear actuators spaced such that their plungers align withthe push pins 217 of the tread elements 210 in each column of treadheads.

Multiple control boxes 252 with solenoids 254 may be mounted around theperiphery of motor 250. To protect the solenoid's 254 plungers fromfouling by dust and dirt an elastic cover (not shown) may be attachedover the plungers in order to protect the pins and the holes they slidesin from fouling by dust and dirt.

Motor 250 is attached to wheel support strut 260, which connects to thevehicle's suspension. Motor 250 has a rotating shaft 251 that fits intoa keyed hole 223 at the intersection of the wheel hub's 220 spokes.Fastening of the motor shaft to the wheel hub is by any of the methodsknown to those skilled in the art. It is through this connection thatthe rotation of the motor shaft is transferred to the wheel. Thus, wheel160 b/hub 220 rotates relative to the strut 260 while the control boxes252/solenoids 254 remain fixed relative to the strut 260.

For additional protection against dust, dirt, and rocks, an outer andinner hub cap 270, 280 may be attached to the wheel assembly. The hubcaps 270, 280 may be attached by machine screws (now shown) passingthrough holes in the periphery of the hub caps 270, 280 and beingthreaded into matching threaded holes (not shown) in the periphery ofthe wheel hub 220. In order to permit the support strut to connect tothe motor, inner hub cap 280 defines a centrally-located opening 282 toadmit passage of a portion of the wheel support strut 260. A rotatingseal of a form commonly known to those skilled in the art may be used atthe hub cap 280/strut 260 interface to permit the hub cap 280 to rotatewith the wheel around the support strut 260.

Wires for transmission of electrical power and control signals (ifcontrol signals are not sent by wireless transmission) to the motor 250and the solenoids 254 may be run through the interior of support strut260. In this manner, it is not necessary to expand the opening 282 inhub cap 280 to permit the wires to run along the support strut and tothe vehicles power and control systems. Such a larger opening 282 couldpermit dust, dirt, and rocks to enter the interior of the wheel hub andpotentially foul the tread reconfiguration mechanism.

Control/power signals carried by the wires to the motor and solenoidsoriginate from the control module 200 in accordance with defined logicstored therein. When an appropriate signal is received by a certainsolenoid 254, that solenoid is actuated and its movable plunger iscaused to impinge upon a push pin 217 of a corresponding tread element210, and to cause that tread element 210's tread head to be extended (ifit was initially retracted) or to be retracted (if it was initiallyextended), as discussed in greater detail below.

In operation, each solenoid's 242 plungers are rapidly extended andretracted as needed to reset the position of tread heads passing infront of the solenoids 242 as the wheel/hub 220 rotates about thesolenoid/box assembly. Each time a solenoid's 242 plunger is extended itwould first contact the elastic membrane 240 and push against it,stretching it until the membrane comes in contact with a correspondingtread head push pin 217, which in turn compresses spring 215 of thecorresponding tread head 210 and raises rotating cup 216 enough to clearthe tops of the grooves in grooved insert 218. When the solenoid's 242plunger retracts, the spring 215 resiles and pushes the rotating cup 216back, and the sloped ends of the ridges on the rotating cup and thesloped ends on the spaces between the grooves in grooved insert 218cause rotating cup 216 to slide back into grooved insert 218 afterrotating a partial turn. Just how far into grooved insert 218 rotatingcup 216 descends depends upon the depth of the grooves in grooved insert218 it is pushed into by spring 215. Accordingly, a single push on thepush pin 217 may move a tread head to an extended or to a retractedposition.

Control software in control module 200 stores the state (extended orretracted) of each tread element 210 on each rover wheel 160 b. Thecontrol software analyzes a message intended to be imprinted upon thesurface of the extraterrestrial body and determines which solenoids needto be actuated, and when, to cause the individual tread elements 210 tocollectively form portions of the message that in turn will cause acorresponding impression on the surface of the extraterrestrial body asthe rover 150 traverses its surface. For example, the message “YOURNAME” may be mapped to a grid of tread heads 7 rows high, so thatappropriate corresponding solenoids can be extended or retracted asnecessary to cause a corresponding tread configuration (having selectedextended solenoids mapping out a “YOUR NAME” message) that will form acorresponding impression (“YOUR NAME”) on the extraterrestrial body asthe rover traverses its surface.

In one embodiment, the transport vehicle's wheels are provided with aset of front wheels that are laterally offset from a set of rear wheelsso that a front wheel will not disturb a rear wheel's surfaceimpressions while the vehicle is travelling over the surface in astraight-forward direction (see FIG. 1). This embodiment provides aparticularly efficient and productive way to generate multiple lines ofimpressions in the surface. Examples of designs that might beimplemented include, but are not limited to: text; representations ofwritten music; symbols, such as, hieroglyphics, language characters;logos; trademarks; and representations created by molding or shaping thesurface material so as to produce an intaglio or bas relief image, suchas of a face, hand, or foot print.

The device 150 further includes an imaging device 170 configured forcapturing an image of the surface. The imaging device may include one ormore still and/or video cameras. Technology for developing andcontrolling a suitable imaging device are well-known in the art and thusare not discussed in detail herein. The imaging device may optionallycapture time and date information. The imaging device may also be usedto capture images of other areas of the extraterrestrial body, such asthe surrounding terrain as it would appear to someone standing on theextraterrestrial body at the location of the design.

The device 150 further includes a communication system 194 configured tocomplement and communicate with the communication station 120, such as aradio antenna for radio communication or a telescope-laser system forlaser communication. Suitable communication systems are well-known inthe art and thus are not discussed in detail herein.

Optionally, the device 150 further includes one or more laser or whitelight scanners 180. As well-known in the art, such scanners are capableof capturing data relating to a surface. The scanner 180 is used here tocapture geometry data representing the design as it exists on thesurface, and for creating a corresponding data signal for transmissionto Earth. Suitable scanners are well-known in the art and thus are notdiscussed in detail herein.

Optionally, the device 150 further includes a navigation system 205. Thenavigation system is configured to produce data identifying a location(e.g., longitude and latitude coordinates) of the design on theextraterrestrial body. Suitable navigation systems are well-known in theart and thus are not discussed in detail herein.

The device 150 further includes a control module 200 configured tocontrol operation of the other components of the device. For example,the control module may provide for computerized control of the vehicle,the surface altering tool (including wheels 160 b), imaging system,navigation system, scanning system, and communication system. Forexample, data from the imaging, laser and navigation devices aretransmitted back to the Earth portion of the system 100 via thecommunication system 190 on the transport vehicle 150.

Signals received from the extraterrestrial portion 80 of the system 100are received on Earth via the communication station 120. For example,these signals may be communicated to the service provider 106. Theservice provider, or more specifically its system 108, receives the datarelating to the production on the extraterrestrial body of the requesteddesign, formats the data and relays it to one or more manufacturingfacilities 140.

Along with such information, the service provider also sends datarelating to merchandise that the entity has requested. The request forsuch merchandise may have been provided by the entity along with therequest to produce the design. Examples of merchandise that the entitymay request include: a copy of some or all of the raw data (includingfor example an electronic image file in *.jpg or other format) collecteddirectly transmitted to the entity (e.g., via an e-mail), a copy of someor all of the data collected, either raw or formatted, delivered on datarecording media such as a DVD, posting of their design images or video,or other data on a website, images of their design on products such asframed or unframed images, greeting cards, coffee mugs, apparel, andwall paper. Any requested merchandise that cannot be deliveredelectronically, may be loaded onto a transport vehicle (e.g., vehicle11, FIG. 1) for delivery of the merchandise to the entity.

An example of merchandise that may be requested is a set of data andimages that document the creation of the design on the extraterrestrialbody. Such documentation, framed or unframed, may contain one or more ofthe following non-limiting examples: a panoramic image of the locationwhere the design was implemented, including the design as imported tothe location; image(s) of the implemented design; image(s) of thetransport vehicle containing the surface altering device thatimplemented the design; image(s) of the launch of the transport vehicleto the extraterrestrial body; statistics and information regarding thetransport vehicle; statistics and information regarding the launchvehicle; date and time stamp of when the design was implemented;geographical coordinates on the extraterrestrial body on which thedesign was implemented; and/or image(s) and/or text selected andsupplied by the entity. Items could be manufactured according to somepredefined format, or permit customization based upon input from therequesting individual or entity. An example of the latter would be topermit the individual to select from a choice of frame styles whenordering a framed image of their design imparted on the surface of theextraterrestrial body.

The data collected from the laser or white light scanner(s) 180 alongwith the image data collected from the imaging device(s) 170 can be usedto generate three-dimensional replicas of the implemented design.Conventional rapid prototype machines can make such replicas from avariety of materials at different scales and resolutions. These replicasmay be colored to match the actual design on the surface of theextraterrestrial body using the image data collected by the imagingdevice(s) 170. The service provider 106 may outsource any or all aspectsof this process to other entities.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram 300 depicting an exemplarymethod for producing made-to-order designs on the surface of anextraterrestrial body is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the method beginswith providing a device on the surface of the extraterrestrial body, asshown at step 302. As discussed above, the device includes a surfacealtering tool, and preferably includes a motorized transport vehicle.The device may be transported from Earth using known techniques.

The method further includes receiving a request to create a design onthe surface of an extraterrestrial body, such as the Earth's moon, asshown at step 304. This step is preferably performed on Earth, and in apreferred embodiment involves receipt of appropriate data signals at aserver or other computerized system via a communications network such asthe internet. The request, and the design, may have any suitable form.By way of example, the request may be to create a textual design, suchas a name or phrase. A more elaborate request might require theindividual to provide data—e.g., the result of a three dimensionalscan—that would permit the surface altering tool to recreate athree-dimensional image, such as a face, foot print, etc. By way ofexample, such data may be provided by transmitting a suitable data filevia the communications network.

Next, the method involves transmitting to the device 150 a controlsignal that will cause the device to create the design, as shown at step306. Preferably, the control signal is created by the service provider's106 system 108, and then transmitted to the device 150 via thecommunication station 120. By way of example, the control signal mayprovide instructions for controlling the surface altering tool and/orthe transport vehicle 190.

The receipt of the control signal at the device 150 causes the controlmodule 200 to control the surface altering tool 160 a, 160 b to createthe requested design on the surface of the extraterrestrial body, e.g.,by causing the vehicle 190 to traverse the surface, by operating thearticulatable arm, or by configuring tread of a configurable-tread roverwheel and causing the vehicle to traverse the surface to impartimpressions corresponding to the tread configuration.

The method further involves determining whether a request formerchandise has been received, as shown at step 308. For example, thisrequest for merchandise may have been part of or associated with therequest received in step 304. If not, then in this exemplary embodiment,the method ends, as shown at steps 308 and 316.

If it is determined in step 308 that a merchandise request has beenreceived, then the system receives from the device an image signalshowing an image of the design created on the surface of the body, asshown at step 310. In other embodiment other types of information may bereceived additionally, or alternatively.

This signal is transmitted from the device 150, and is received on Earthvia the communication station 120, and ultimately by the serviceprovider's system 108. The method then involves creating of therequested merchandise bearing the image, and sending the merchandise toa recipient, as shown at steps 312 and 314. The recipient may or may notbe the same as the requesting entity. Further, the merchandise may bemanufactured by the service provider, or the service provider mayoutsource such manufacture to an independent party. It should be notedthat the merchandise may be an intangible object, such as an electronicdata file, such as an *.jpg electronic image file, and that such anobject may be sent to the recipient by electronically transmitting thefile via a communications network. Alternatively, the merchandise may bea tangible (physical) object, such as a coffee mug bearing an image ofthe design as it exists on the surface of the extraterrestrial body, andthat such an object may be sent to the recipient by transport vehicle(vehicle 11, FIG. 1) or other means. By way of further example, therequested merchandise may be a three-dimensional reproduction of thedesign as it exists on the surface of the extraterrestrial body.

Thus, the present invention provides a method for satisfying demand forunique gifts, memorials, trophies, awards, prizes, commemorations, andsuch, by creating, potentially very long-lived designs, e.g. includingmessages, on the surface of an extraterrestrial body using a devicedeployable on the surface of an extraterrestrial body outfitted with oneor more means for altering the surface of the extraterrestrial body,such as wheels with on-the-fly reconfigurable tread heads, so as toimplement a desired design on the surface in accordance with an entity'sinstructions. The device is outfitted with cameras and other sensors tocollect data about the created design and a communication system totransmit the data back to Earth. The transmitted data, along with anyadditional data supplied by the ordering entity, is used to producemerchandise incorporating recordings of the collected data, hard copyimages, or combinations of images and text, and reproductions of theimplemented design to be delivered per the entity's instructions.

While there have been described herein the principles of the invention,it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this descriptionis made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims, tocover all modification of the invention which fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for producing made-to-order designs on asurface of an extraterrestrial body, the method comprising: receivingfrom an entity a request to create a design on the surface of theextraterrestrial body; transmitting a control signal to a device on avehicle on the extraterrestrial body, the control signal causing thedevice to create the design; receiving an image signal sent from thevehicle, the image signal providing an image of the design created onthe surface.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving arequest for merchandise bearing the image; creating merchandise bearingthe image; and sending the merchandise to a recipient.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein said requested merchandise comprises an electronicimage file, and wherein said sending comprises transmitting saidelectronic image file via a communications network.
 4. The method ofclaim 2, wherein said recipient is not said individual.
 5. The method ofclaim 2, wherein said requested merchandise comprises a physical object,and wherein said creating comprises producing said image on saidphysical object.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the requestcomprises receiving a data signal via a communications network.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the data signal is selected from a groupconsisting of a telephone call, a facsimile transmission, acommunication from a smart phone software application, an electronicmail communication, an SMS communication, and a communicationtransmitted via the Internet.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereintransmitting the control signal causing the device to create the designcomprises transmitting signals causing the device to rearrange materialon the surface of the extraterrestrial body to replicate the design. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a vehicle, andwherein transmitting a control signal causing the device to create thedesign comprises transmitting a control signal causing the vehicle totraverse the surface of the extraterrestrial body to create the design.10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a data signalsent from the device, the data signal identifying at least one of: atype of equipment used to create the design; a location of the designrelative to the extraterrestrial body; and a time of creation of thedesign on the extraterrestrial body.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinreceiving the image signal comprises receiving at least one of a videoimage signal and a still image signal.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein creating merchandise bearing the image comprise creating athree-dimensional reproduction of the design as it exists on the surfaceof the extraterrestrial body.
 13. A device for producing made-to-orderdesigns on a surface of an extraterrestrial body, the device comprising:a surface altering tool configured to rearrange material on the surface;a motorized vehicle capable of traversing the surface of theextraterrestrial body, the vehicle supporting the surface altering tool;an imaging device supported on the vehicle, the imaging device beingconfigured for capturing an image of the surface; a communication systemfor receiving a control signal transmitted from Earth, and fortransmitting an image signal to Earth; and a control module configuredto control operation at least one of the vehicle and the surfacealtering tool to produce a design in accordance with the control signal.14. The device of claim 13, wherein the imaging device is configured tocapture at least one of a still image and a video image.
 15. The deviceof claim 13, further comprising: a scanner for capturing geometry datarepresenting the design as it exists on the surface, and for creating acorresponding data signal for transmission to Earth.
 16. The device ofclaim 13, further comprising: a navigation system configured to producedata identifying a location of the design on the extraterrestrial body.17. The device of claim 13, wherein the communication system isconfigured to communication using at least one of laser communicationand radio communication.
 18. The device of claim 13, wherein the surfacealtering tool comprises a tread on a wheel of the vehicle, the treadbeing configured to form an impression on the surface to create thedesign while the vehicle traverses the surface.
 19. The device of claim13, wherein the surface altering tool comprises a configurable-treadrover wheel, and wherein the configurable-tread rover wheel comprises: awheel hub defining a plurality of radially-extending channels; aplurality of tread elements, each tread element being supported in arespective one of said plurality of radially-extending channels, eachtread element comprising: a tread head supported on an elongated post; arotating cup having a central opening for receiving said post, aradially-extending flange and a plurality of longitudinally-extendingridges spaced about its periphery, said rotating cup terminating in apin; a spring supported about said post and abutting said flange to biassaid tread head toward a retracted position; an elongated push pinhaving a central opening for receiving said pin of said rotating cup;and a grooved insert having an internal channel admitting passage ofsaid elongated push pin and a plurality of longitudinally-extendinggrooves spaced about its channel, the grooved insert further comprisinga plurality of angled surfaces configured to guide the ridges of therotating cup and cause incremental rotation of the rotating cup about anaxis in response to reciprocation of the rotating cup within the groovedinsert along the axis; and a plurality of solenoids supported withinsaid wheel hub, each of said plurality of solenoids being operativelyconnected to said control module to permit actuation of each saidsolenoid upon receipt of a control signal from said control module. 20.The device of claim 13, wherein the surface altering tool comprises anarticulatable arm controllable to rearrange material on the surface tocreate the design.
 21. A system for producing made-to-order designs on asurface of a planetary body, the system comprising: a communicationsystem for transmitting a control signal to a device on the body; and acomputer-implemented system comprising: a request module for receiving arequest to create a design on the surface; a command module forpreparing the control signal causing the device to create the design;and an imaging module for receiving from the device an image signalproviding an image of the design created on the surface.
 22. The systemof claim 21, further comprising the device.
 23. A configurable-treadwheel, the configurable-tread wheel comprising: a wheel hub defining aplurality of radially-extending channels; a plurality of tread elements,each tread element being supported in a respective one of said pluralityof radially-extending channels, each tread element comprising: a treadhead supported on an elongated post; a rotating cup having a centralopening for receiving said post, a radially-extending flange and aplurality of longitudinally-extending ridges spaced about its periphery,said rotating cup terminating in a pin; a spring supported about saidpost and abutting said flange to bias said tread head toward a retractedposition; an elongated push pin having a central opening for receivingsaid pin of said rotating cup; and a grooved insert having an internalchannel admitting passage of said elongated push pin and a plurality oflongitudinally-extending grooves spaced about its channel, the groovedinsert further comprising a plurality of angled surfaces configured toguide the ridges of the rotating cup and cause incremental rotation ofthe rotating cup about an axis in response to reciprocation of therotating cup within the grooved insert along the axis; and a pluralityof solenoids supported within said wheel hub, each of said plurality ofsolenoids being operatively connected to said control module to permitactuation of each said solenoid upon receipt of a control signal fromsaid control module.